The lack of establishment pharmacists continues to seriously affect the Montérégie.
According to the results of the last annual survey of the Association of Pharmacists of Health Establishments of Quebec (APES), the region recorded a shortage rate of no less than 18%. The APES calls for rapid action in order to resolve the situation and avoid too serious consequences on the care and services to the population.
At 1is April 2020, 26 full-time equivalent (FTE) pharmacist positions were unfilled out of a total of 142 positions in health establishments in Montérégie. The latter also used the services of convenience pharmacists for 340 days between 1is April 2019 and March 31, 2020.
This is how it is everywhere in Quebec
Across Quebec, one in five institutional pharmacist positions (19%) was unfilled. The 2020 annual survey revealed 286 unfilled FTE positions and 5,503 payday days. Considering the period covered, the data does not allow us to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which possibly worsened the situation.
“We have reached a point where the shortage is detrimental to the pharmaceutical care coverage offered to hospitalized, outpatient and CHSLD patients. However, in a context of an aging population and an explosion of acute and chronic health problems, a health establishment must be able to count on a sufficient number of pharmacists. As experts in medicines, they must be part of healthcare teams more systematically, in a logic of interdisciplinarity ”, declared the president of the APES, François Paradis.
Serious consequences
In addition to the discovery of important sectors, such as emergencies and CHSLDs, the insufficiency of pharmaceutical care in health establishments has several negative consequences. There is an increased risk of incidents and medication accidents. There is also an increase in the average length of hospitalizations, as well as the risks of adverse effects and interactions.
It is also a question of returns to the emergency room and readmissions (revolving door syndrome); a decrease in the quality of life of patients; as well as additional costs to the health system.
–
